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ISSUE 125

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| CONTENTS

HK Golfer
Issue 125

July 2017

32
On the Cover:

Defending champion Tiffany
Chan showed her grit as
she did all week and refused
to fade away, clawing back
magnificently with five birdies
in the final round of EFG
HK Ladies Championship,
and received the HK Golf
Club Cup as the top HK
finisher (tied-13th).
Photo by Daniel Wong

Features

Plus…

30 | Interview

10 | Divots

Ben Wong talks about his victory in the 2017 U.S. Amateur
Four-Ball Championship with playing partner Frankie Capan.
Interview by Louie Chan

News and events from Hong Kong and the region.
By The Editors

32 | EFG Hong Kong Ladies Open

A pictorial review of the last 30 days from around
the world.
By The Editors

Thailand’s Supamas Sangchan won the EFG Hong Kong
Ladies Open by one shot, and denied Tiffany Chan’s fairy tale
title defence after last year’s playoff success as an amateur.
By Louie Chan

38 | King of the Hills
Brooks Koepka, one of the biggest hitters in the game,
brought the longest U.S. Open venue to it's knees.
By Louie Chan

46 | The Open Championship Preview
Whoever lifts the Claret Jug come Sunday 23rd July will
know he has been in a heavyweight title fight against the
course, the elements and the finest line-up of golfers the
world can presently provide.
By Mike Wilson

After a whirlwind week at the Hong Kong Ladies Open, the
23-year-old Olympian settled down to the business of establishing
herself on the Symetra Tour, the second-tier circuit of LGPA
Tour. Tiffany announced her arrival in the U.S. by shooting a
stunning nine-under-par 63 final round to finish second by one
shot at the Decatur-Forsyth Classic on her Symetra Tour debut.
But after opening with rounds of 70 and 72 to start the final day
at two-under-par overall, Tiffany was denied a maiden win in just
her second professional event.
Having walked away with a cheque for US$2,580 a week
earlier at the EFG Hong Kong Ladies Open on her professional
debut, Tiffany’s reward of US$12,311 lifted the former amateur
up to 29th on the Symetra Tour order of merit. A top-10 finish
on the money list will earn her a coveted spot on next year’s

LPGA Tour, with around US$50,000 - US$70,000
having been enough to reach that spot in recent Symetra
Tour seasons.
Thanks to EFG, the Swiss Private Bank, for a threeyear sponsorship deal, Tiffany does not have to worry
about paying for flights and hotels for the next three
years and can focus on increasing her bank balance.
EFG is no stranger to the world of golf in Hong Kong,
having been the principal partner of the Hong Kong
Golf Association’s elite junior development programme
bet ween 2009 and 2014. It was also during t he
programme in 2009 when EFG met Hong Kong’s first
golfing Olympian and the winner of the golf tournament
at the 2014 World University Championships.

HKUAA Wins Annual Universities Alumni Event

Symetra Tour

The 4th Annual Hong Kong Universities Alumni Golf
Tournament was held at Feng Huang Shan Golf Club
(Phoenix Hill Golf Course) in Dongguan, China.
In addition to the HKUAA Golf Team, alumni
teams from the Chinese University of Hong Kong,
Canadian Universities Association, Hong Kong
University of Science and Technology, Polytechnic
University, City University, Baptist University and the
Hong Kong Institute of Education participated in the
Gross and Net Net Peoria Team Competitions.
HKUA A Golf Team Captain Roddy Lau,
supported by Team Executive Committee Member
Edmund Wu, led team members: Andy Lui,
Anthony Wong, Benny Chan, Evan Yung, Herman
Yip, Ian Chung, Michael Lee, Sharon Lam, Simon
Lo & Yvonne Wong.
The HKUAA Golf Team had the lowest Team
Gross Score and both the lowest Team NNP score.
But the Tournament Rules only allowed each Team
to win one prize, so, the HKUAA Golf Team
accepted the Team Gross Champion.
10

HK GOLFER・JUL 2017

HKGOLFER.COM

| DIVOTS

Taichi Kho Wins Mission Hills Jack Nicklaus Junior Championship

HKGOLFER.COM

Daniel Wong

Taichi Kho won the boys’ title in thrilling style with a final
round of 69 before eagling the second play-off hole while New
Zealand’s Rose Zheng also came through a tight battle to win
the girls. The 16-year-old holds the Hong Kong Junior Open
and Close titles, continued that form to win with a 54-hole
total of 225 on the par-72 Sandbelt Trails Course at the Mission
Hills Haikou resort.
Having opened with rounds of 79 and 77, the Hong Kong
national team member, who also won the HKGA Winter Junior
Championship in December, carded a brilliant three-under-par
final round – the lowest of the tournament – to catch Thailand’s
Supawitch Songklod and then claim the sudden-death playoff
with a 15-foot eagle putt. China’s Ma Bing-Wen finished one
shot behind to take third overall and win the Boys’ 11-14 division.
In the girls’ category, Zheng impressed with rounds of 72, 74
and 72 to finish on two over par, only one ahead of overnight
leader, Sun Jia-Ze of China on 219. Another Hong Kong
player, Iris Wang Xin-Yi won the Girls’ 11-14 division with a
score of 241, beating Jenny Chang Chih-Hsuan of Chinese
Taipei on count-back.
The overall champions, Kho and Zheng were among a total
of 18 players who were rewarded with an invitation to the
Nicklaus Junior Championship in the USA this summer. The
top three players in each age group have the opportunity to
compete in the event, which is held on June 20-21 in Palm
Beach County, Florida.

Asia Focus
Fantastic
Fung Lifts
Maiden Title
Malaysia’s Nicholas Fung
overcame nerves to secure a
maiden Asian Tour title at the
Queen’s Cup, and dedicated
the career breakthrough to his
father. His impressive 15-underpar 269 winning aggregate saw
him joining countrymen Danny
Chia, Airil Rizman and Ben
Leong as winners on the
region’s premier Tour. Fung is
also the fifth first-time winner
this season.
The 27-year-old was the
overnight leader, courageously
holed a four-foot par putt on
the 18th hole at Santiburi Samui
Country Club for a closing
four-under-par 67 and a onestroke triumph over Thailand’s
Jazz Janewattananond. Jazz,
21, kept on Fung’s coattail
throughout a frenetic last day,
staying bogey free for the
second successive round to
shoot a 66 while Chinese Taipei’s
Hung Chien-yao birdied his last
three holes for a 67 which gave
him third place, two behind the
new champion.
The slightly-built Fung paid
tribute to his father, En Ping,
who was with him on the
holiday isle on what was also
Father’s Day on Sunday around
the world.
Photo by
Asian Tour

REACHING FOR THE
STARS
FEW WATCHES HAVE
THE POWER TO INSPIRE
LIKE THE OMEGA
SPEEDMASTER. THE
FIRST WATCH EVER
WORN ON THE MOON,
IT HAS BECOME AN
ENDURING SYMBOL OF
THE INGENUITY AND
SKILL THAT TOOK US
INTO SPACE. ON ITS
SIXTIETH ANNIVERSARY,
WE LOOK BACK AT THE
HEADY DAYS OF THE
APOLLO PROGRAM AND
REFLECT ON WHY THE
SPEEDMASTER WAS ABLE
TO GO WHERE IT DID.
2017 Speedmaster Racing
Master Chronometer
HKGOLFER.COM

HK GOLFERã&#x192;»JUL 2017

19

1957
“BROAD ARROW”

1971
MARK III

1987
ITALY

Made especially for Italy

1997
“THE GOLDEN PANDA”
Exclusive to Japan

2005
GEMINI IV

40th anniversary

2013
DARK SIDE OF THE MOON
First Speedmaster in ceramic

1959
FIRST OMEGA IN SPACE
Worn by Walter Schirra

1972
ALASKA II (prototype)
Pursuing the perfect space watch

1991
PERPETUAL CALENDAR

For Switzerland’s 700th anniversary

1997
40TH ANNIVERSARY

40 years of the Speedmaster

2005
CO-AXIAL GMT

With pioneering escapement

2014
APOLLO 11

45th anniversary

1963
THIRD GENERATION

1973
SPEEDSONIC

First electronic Speedmaster

1992
SKELETON

Rare hand-crafted limited edition

1998
X-33

1964
A.C.P

Delivered to the Automovil Club Peruano

1973
SPEEDMASTER 125

Celebrating 125 years of OMEGA

1978
ALASKA III

Built for the Space Shuttle

1968
RACING DIAL

Worn in the TV series

1979
ALASKA IV

1980
APOLLO 11

Quartz prototype for NASA

1995
APOLLO 13

25th anniversary

1999
APOLLO 11

2006
APOLLO 15

2007
50TH ANNIVERSARY PATCH

2014
SKYWALKER X-33

2015
SILVER SNOOPY AWARD

50 years of the Speedmaster

Apollo 13 45th anniversary

2000
APOLLO-SOYUZ
25th anniversary

2008
BEIJING

Celebrating the XXIX Olympiad

2015
X-33 Si2

New approach for Solar Impulse

2008
ALASKA PROJECT

A prototype becomes reality

2015
SPEEDMASTER ‘57

Worn by George Clooney

2008
“HB-SIA” GMT

Built for Solar Impulse

2016
CK2998

Inspired by the 1959 original

1957
“BROAD ARROW”
The first Speedmaster
Called the “Broad Arrow” due to its distinctive
hands, this was not only the first Speedmaster,
b u t i t w as als o t h e f ir s t chro n o gr ap h
wristwatch in the world with its tachymeter
scale on the bezel as opposed to printed on
the dial - a feature designed for the benefit of
racing car drivers.
1965
THE MOONWATCH
First watch worn on the moon
When Neil Arms trong and Buz z Aldrin
stepped onto the lunar surface in 1969, this
Speedmaster model became the first watch
ever worn on the moon. In fact, it has since
become the watch that has served on the
most lunar missions.

60 Years of
Speedmaster
20

HK GOLFER・JUL 2017

1968
ULTRAMAN

For enhanced readability

1992
JUBILEE

30th anniversary

Built for the European Space Agency

1975
APOLLO-SOYUZ

Celebrating the American-Soviet mission

1968
THE MOONWATCH

Direct link to the Moonwatch of today

manual-wound Speedmaster

Favoured by pilots

35th anniversary

1965
THE MOONWATCH

First watch worn on the moon

1987
SPEEDMASTER AUTOMATIC
The “Holy Grail” for collectors
This was the first Speedmaster that combined
an automatic movement with a Moonwatch

2009
APOLLO 11

40th anniversary

2016
MOONPHASE

First Speedmaster Master Chronometer

1969
COMMEMORATIVE EDITION

For OMEGA’s achievements in space

1983
BICOLOR

First bicolor

1995
MIR 365 DAYS

1969
MARK II

ALASKA I (prototype)
Specially made for NASA

1985
“SPEEDYMOON”

1987
SPEEDMASTER AUTOMATIC

First Speedmaster Moonphase

1996
RACING

365 days on MIR Space Station

Launched by Michael Schumacher

2003
SNOOPY

2003
FROM THE MOON TO MARS

Celebrating the success of Apollo 13

2010
APOLLO-SOYUZ

First Speedmaster with
meteorite dial

2017
# SPEEDYTUESDAY

An online community tribute

1969

First redesign

Anticipating the future

2011
APOLLO 15

The “Holy Grail” for collectors

1997
RELAUNCH

Inspired by the 1957 original

2004
APOLLO 11

35th anniversary

2012
APOLLO 17

40th anniversary

40th anniversary

2017
SPEEDMASTER 38mm

2017
SPEEDMASTER RACING

Simplicity meets iconic design

Return of the racing dial

case. For collec tors, finding an original
piece can become an obsession full of
disappointment, joy and despair – hence its
“Holy Grail” nickname.
1997
40TH ANNIVERSARY
40 years of the Speedmaster
To c e l e b r a t e 4 0 y e a r s o f t h e i c o n i c
Speedmaster, Omega released this model in
1997 featuring a cream dial and front glass
made from sapphire crystal – which was
unusual for the time. Limited to 500 pieces
and exclusive to Italy, it was also one of the
first models with hands and a dial coated
in LumiNova.
2007
50TH ANNIVERSARY PATCH
50 years of the Speedmaster
Created in a limited edition of 5,957 pieces to
commemorate the birth of the Speedmaster
in 1957, this watch has a golden Seahorse
printed on the dial, representing the emblem
w i t h w h i c h t h e S p e e d m a s te r is m o s t
closely associated.
HKGOLFER.COM

2015
SPEEDMASTER ‘57
Worn by George Clooney
T h e Sp e e dmas ter ‘57 is an inn ov ati ve
wristwatch that salutes its legendary ancestor
and has been designed to experience new
adventures of its very own. The model recalled
some features similar to its famous ancestor.
George Clooney proudly wore this model for
the international advertising campaign in 2015.
2017
SPEEDMASTER 38 MM
Simplicity meets iconic design
The refined 38 mm collection retains the
famous look and 60-year heritage of the
Speedmaster but also updates it with a pure
and new aesthetic touch. For this ladies’
model, the diamond-paved bezel also includes
a tachymeter scale on a brown aluminium ring.
2017
SPEEDMASTER RACING
MASTER CHRONOMETER
Return of the racing dial
The distinctive minute-track style on this
stainless-steel watch first appeared on a 1968
Speedmaster model, and it returns, this time
on a matt-black dial. Other features on the dial
include the orange markings and bevelled 18K
white gold arrowhead indexes.

2017 Speedmaster 38
mm retains the famous
look and 60-year heritage
of the collection

t’s all about whisky this July.
We’ve seen Scotch Whisky emerge in recent
times as the preferred spirit category of choice
for the new generation of drinker. Gaucho, the
London-born Argentinian steakhouse held a
Whisky Tasting Dinner featuring Glenmorangie
Single Malt Whisk y in late June. An excellent
opportunity to tr y four dif ferent whiskies from
Glenmorangie with delicac y, smoothness and
complexity, paired with some of Gaucho’s signatures
and new items.
Upon arrival guests will be greeted with a 10
years old Glenmorangie original-based cocktail with
an American white oak finish. For starters expect
Salmon Tiradito - mango, passion fruit, pomegranate
and aji Amarillo paired with Glenmorangie The
Original (10 years old), as well as the Braised Beef
Back Ribs glazed in a hoisin and chilli orange sauce
with sesame seeds, fresh orange and pickled chillies,
paired with a 12 years old Glenmorangie Lasanta.
Both dishes are recent additions to Gaucho’s new a
la carte menu. For mains indulge in Gaucho’s ancho
rib-eye - delicately marbled throughout for excellent
and full-bodied flavours, paired with 18 years old
Glenmorangie extremely rare. Dessert will include a
blue cheese plate and whisky brownie paired with
12 years old Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban. The menu
will include one bottle of complimentary 10 years old
Glenmorangie original.
The menu will be available at Gaucho in July upon
request. A la carte options will still be available.
Gaucho lands in Hong Kong as the f lagship
restaurant in Asia as it makes its entrance into a whole
new market promising “the true essence of Argentina
- its food, wine, culture and most importantly, the
passion of the people”. Internationally renowned
for succulent steaks and mouth-watering ceviches,
Gaucho Hong Kong remains true to its elegant,
individual style. The decor style is around the brand's
iconic cowhide walls, rich black and white leather
furniture, mirror panels and crystal chandeliers.
The menu is headlined by steak cuts from the
finest 100% grass-fed, free-range Argentine Angus
beef - considered the best in the world. Cooking in
the traditional Argentine way - cut to order, grilled
and turned only once to seal the juices and enhance
the f lavour. Gaucho’s culinar y st yle combines
traditional Argentine cooking over open fire asado
grills with modern “Nuevo Latin” tastes. Book
your table at gauchorestaurants.com or call them
on +825 2386 8090.

22

HK GOLFER・JUL 2017

Cooking in the traditional Argentine way - cut to order, grilled
and turned only once to seal the juices and enhance the flavour
An excellent opportunity to try four different whiskies from
Glenmorangie with delicacy, smoothness and complexity,
paired with some of Gaucho’s signatures and new items

Gaucho is internationally renowned for
succulent steaks and mouth-watering ceviches

HKGOLFER.COM

Award-winning wealth
management that is simply
par for the course...
I

offer wealth management advice to individuals, trustees and businesses, specifically designed around their individual
circumstances. I take the time to get to know you and your requirements offering financial advice that adapts as your
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As well as addressing straightforward issues such as mortgages and insurance, I can help resolve more complex problems
for clients, whether it be investment for growth, Inheritance Tax or retirement planning. Providing expert advice to
help you achieve four principal financial objectives:
•
•
•
•

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage. An investment with St. James’s
Place will be directly linked to the performance of the funds selected and may fall as well as rise.You may get back less
than the amount invested.
For further information, or to request your complimentary guide to wealth management, contact:

The ‘St. James’s Place Partnership’ and the titles ‘Partner’ and ‘Partner Practice’ are marketing terms used to describe St. James’s Place representatives.
Members of the St. James’s Place Partnership in Hong Kong represent St. James’s Place (Hong Kong) Limited, which is an authorised insurance broker by being a member of
The Hong Kong Confederation of Insurance Brokers CIB, a licensed corporation with the Securities and Futures Commission and registered as an MPF Intermediary with Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority.
St. James’s Place Wealth Management plc Registered Office: St. James’s Place House, 1 Tetbury Road, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, GL7 1FP, United Kingdom. Registered in England Number 4113955.

Long-term financial security

The quest
for wealth

The path to long-term financial security is strewn with
uncertainty and complexity. Agost A. Makszin, Partner
of St. James’s Place Wealth Management explains the
five principles which can help keep you on track.
There was a time when saving and investing for the future
was considered a relatively uncomplicated affair that felt
many steps removed from the intricacies of finance and global
economics. Progress in recent decades – from the sophistication of
everyday technology to the ready availability of round-the-clock
services – has simplified many parts of our lives. But it has brought
more complexity too, particularly in matters of personal finance.
Research consistently shows that many people find the decisions
they need to make on saving and investing difficult, despite the
profusion of information available.The paradox is that this confusion
has deepened as financial services have modernised. The real danger
is that people disengage from the process of how to create the
wealth they need for their future.
While many things have changed, there are a number of constant
principles on which investors should base their strategy to help fulfil
their financial aspirations. The key rules that investors should follow
in their quest for wealth are simply:
1.

Make sure you have sufficient money on deposit for your
short-term needs.

2.

Guard against inflation.

3.

Invest for the longer term.

4.

Diversify your investments.

5.

Find the very best managers.

Old habits
All over the developed world, savers are enduring the lowest
returns on cash for centuries; but many remain wary of stock
markets, despite their recovery from 2009 lows. Instead, many
continue to accumulate cash; perhaps, overwhelmed by choice, it
is easier to cling to old habits. But disappointing rates are expected
to endure and the eventual rise will be slow and low. In such an
interest rate environment, those who wish to achieve meaningful
returns will need to reassess their savings on deposit.
However, cash does still play a vital role in an investment strategy,
and enough should be kept on deposit. As Chris Ralph, Chief
Investment Officer of St. James’s Place, says: “If you maintain
adequate liquidity, you should avoid the need to sell long-term
investments at a bad time. As a guide, you should have enough
to be able to sleep at night, and cover both expected needs and
unforeseen emergencies.”
Loyalty’s return
Investors who hold enough cash can ignore passing market

sentiment; while those with short-term horizons are more likely
to be disappointed. Over the long term, investment in real assets,
such as equities, provides the best chance of inflation-beating
returns. When the ‘dotcom bubble’ burst in March 2000, global
equities tumbled for three years; share prices rose until the 2008
financial crisis took markets to a low in March 2009. Since then,
shares have climbed again, with ups and downs along the way, to
near-record levels.
Ralph comments: “Investors cannot consistently and successfully
time the markets, but those who hold assets for extended periods
can reap the cumulative benefit of time’s smoothing effect on
market fluctuations and unforeseen events.” No one knows what
will happen to share prices in the short term, but those who invest
over a longer period – say five years or more – are likely to be
better off than they are today.
Steady attrition
One persistent obstacle that an individual will need to overcome
on the road to wealth creation is inflation. Even modest levels of
inflation can erode cash in a low interest rate environment. And all
of us at some point in our lives are likely to live through at least one
period of significant inflation.
The effects of inflation can be as severe as a sharp fall in markets.
However, whereas market dips are usually followed by recoveries,
inflation permanently reduces the value of your savings. While
you should hold money on deposit for short-term needs, there
is significant risk in trying to play safe by putting all your money
into cash-like investments. When investing for the long term, you
should keep an eye on inflation.
The importance of diversification
The old adage that investors should not put all their eggs in one
basket still rings true. As well as the appropriate level of cash,

A D V E RT I S I N G F E AT U R E

it is important to diversify as widely as possible across different
investments that can protect against inflation. “The trick is to ensure
that the selection of assets won’t react in the same way to market
events or economic changes,” says Ralph. “Just as investments will
not rise at the same pace or time, you should ensure that they do
not fall at the same time either.”
Shares, bonds and commercial property are examples of assets
that can provide growth. Investing in funds rather than individual
investments also ensures that money is more widely spread. And
by investing in a selection of funds that diversify across different
shares, sectors and regions, as well as asset classes, investors will
be better placed to withstand shifts in economic and financial
conditions and achieve above-inflation returns over the long term.
Pathfinders
Different managers have different styles and assets; but many
invest in the same way, so variety is no guarantee of diversity.
There are a large number of fund managers to select from; some
are excellent, some are very good, and some are not. “It is critical
to have an investment approach that gives the best chance for your
money to be with good managers,” advises Ralph. “Understanding
how your adviser researches, selects and monitors the fund
managers should be high on your list of priorities.”
There are no paths for investors that are risk-free and there
probably never were. Making an informed and confident choice is
not an easy task. The key to building long-term wealth is a realistic

assessment of needs and goals that reflects a level of risk that feels
comfortable. Individuals are often reticent about reviewing their
approach to wealth creation; but advice is the key for a planned,
long-term investment strategy and for peace of mind.
The value of an investment with St. James’s Place will be directly
linked to the performance of the funds selected and may fall as well
as rise.You may get back less than the amount invested. Equities do
not provide the security of capital associated with deposit accounts
subject to the Deposit Protection Scheme.
To receive a copy of The Investor, the magazine produced by
St. James’s Place Wealth Management, please contact me at
agost.makszin@sjpp.asia or to arrange an obligation-free
meeting please call me on 2824-1083 / 5588-2212.
DISCLAIMER:
The ‘St. James’s Place Partnership’ and the titles ‘Partner’ and ‘Partner
Practice’ are marketing terms used to describe St. James’s Place
representatives. Members of the St. James’s Place Partnership in Hong
Kong represent St. James’s Place (Hong Kong) Limited, which is an
authorised insurance broker by being a member of The Hong Kong
Confederation of Insurance Brokers CIB, a licensed corporation with
the Securities and Futures Commission and registered as an MPF
Intermediary. St. James’s PlaceWealth Management plc Registered Office:
St. James’s Place House, 1 Tetbury Road, Cirencester, Gloucestershire,
GL7 1FP, United Kingdom. Registered in England Number 4113955.

HONG KONG
GOLF ASSOCIATION

From the President

Among the many sports of the world, perhaps not many have
as misunderstood reputation as golf. To some, the sport of golf
may seem an antiquated, elitist or backwards institution. But as
those who play it know, the golf governing organisations and
golf itself is preparing to make leaps and bounds to modernise
and adapt to the 21st century.
In late April, the Hong Kong Golf Association was honoured
with an invitation to attend the 10th R&A International Golf
Conference. The centrepiece of the conference was naturally
the upcoming golf rules modernisation, scheduled for 2019.
The R&A has focused on making the game more streamlined,
appealing to the upcoming generations of young golfers, and
accessible to beginners and amateurs, while at the same time
respecting the tradition and spirit of the original Rules of Golf.
Not only that, but sessions focusing on supporting amateur
golf were heartening to me. Given that Hong Kong has a
vibrant amateur golf scene, with many local competitors who
head overseas to represent our city, these efforts on making golf
more accessible to and supportive of both fresh inductees into
the game, are a great boon for this city.
Part of the R&Aâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s efforts to modernise and revamp the rules
of golf is, particularly, to make it easier to translate it into the
many languages of the world, and to make it more open to the
different conditions that golf is played in. When the original
Rules of Golf were first compiled in 1744, who couldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve
imagined a tiny fishing village in the South China Sea would
one day become dynamic golfing city?
I must mention and congratulate our CEO, Danny Lai,
and his team, who came in second in the golf competition for
delegates at the Old Course. And many thanks to the R&A for
inviting the HKGA, and many other delegates from around
HKGOLFER.COM

the world, to discuss and be a part of what promises to be an
exciting new phase in the history of golf.
Harald Dudok van Heel
President
Hong Kong Golf Association

Danny Lai, CEO of HKGA (far right) and his
team came in second in the golf competition
for delegates at the Old Course
HK GOLFERă&#x192;ťJUL 2017

27

HKGA | SENIORS CLOSE AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

Doug
Did It

Again
The American-born Doug Williams defended his title by a huge margin
of 12 shots. Williams’ three-round total of 205 speaks for his dominance
of local senior golf scene, writes Louie Chan.

Y

es, he did again! Douglas Williams claimed his fifth Seniors
Close Amateur title at the Clearwater Bay Golf and Country
Club. The defending champion started the final round with a
9-shot cushion over Antony Happell and Joseph Pethes, both
tied at second after two rounds. But Chung, the former HKGA
president, climbed back to second place with a closing one-under
par 69. Chung, Williams (67) and Philip Woolcott-Brown (69) were the only 3
players carded under-par in the final round.

OVERALL FINAL RESULTS

“I’m 59 now. I won the first time when I turned 55. So, it’s fifth time in a
row. I came here this week playing well and putting well. I made 17 GIRs
today but to be honest, I wasn’t really making any putt. I was putting well but
it’s not really going in,” said Williams. “Anyway, my game was really solid.
Somebody shot 69 (Kui Hing Wo) in the first round and I wasn’t leading - I
was kind of happy! I told myself I could just play well to win this thing. That’s
the vibe you need to have. I’ve got to play my best to win. But wins are never
easy. You’ve got to manage yourself and it’s easy to make mistake.”

Williams’ three-round
total of 205 speaks for
his dominance of local
senior golf scene
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HK GOLFER・JUL 2017

29

INTERVIEW

The U.S. Amateur
Four-Ball Champion
Louie Chan talks to Ben Wong, who claimed recent victory
in the 2017 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship with
playing partner Frankie Capan. Ben was born in Hong Kong
and joined the HKGA junior programme at an early age.
He has lived the last three years in The Woodlands, Texas and
committed to play at Southern Methodist University in 2018.

Frankie Capan (left)
and Ben Wong with the
trophy at the end of
match play at the 2017
U.S. Amateur Four-Ball

30

HK GOLFER・JUL 2017

HKGOLFER.COM

Louie Chan: It’s a tough win for you guys always being
one down. Did you feel the similar spirit like Payne
Stewart came back to beat Mickelson in 1999 there?
Ben Wong: The four-ball is a tough test for all
competitors. We had two rounds of stroke play and five
matches to get the trophy. Even though we were down
in two or three games, we stayed pretty patient out
there, knowing that anything could happen in fourball. I think at a tough course like Pinehurst, the most
resilient players will always hang up at the top: that’s
what Payne was liked. His spirits were felt.

Ben Wong hitting
his tee shot to start
the final round
of match play at
Pinehurst Resort
& Country Club

LC: When was the momentum changer for you guys?
BW: The momentum changer was probably the birdie on
10th. It was a tough hole with a tough pin. It was something
about the back nine that treated us well all week. Once I
made birdie on 10th, we knew how to close out the rest.
LC: Were the hole locations tough in the final? They
were as the same as in the previous U.S. Opens (1999,
2005 and 2014).
BW: The hole locations were very tough. However, it
was fun knowing that we played the course as tough as
possible. It was tough getting the ball close to the hole,
especially with a long iron. I was fortunate enough
to putt well that week, especially in the match play.
We knew that if we kept giving ourselves good looks,
a bunch of birdies would fall.
LC: Frankie Capan is your playing partner and best
friend. How did you guys meet?
BW: Frankie and I met at a tournament called “Pars”
when we were 7. I shot a 66 in the final round there
with Frankie, and he shot a 64 in the second round of
the tournament. Ever since we met up every summer,
we played junior golf. Frankie caddied for me at the US
junior in 2013. We’ve been best friends ever since.

Ben and Frankie met at a tournament when they were 7, played junior
golf every summer and have been best friends ever since

LC: You have committed to play at Southern Methodist
University in 2018. What’s your expectation of playing
college golf?
BW: College golf has been something I’ve looked forward
to for quite a while. The college level is much more
competitive than the junior level, but I’m excited to test
my ability with the best. I don’t have many expectations
for myself going into college. I’m just trying to take
things one step at a time, be patient and enjoy it.
LC: How did the Hong Kong Golf Association junior
programme help you to become a successful golfer?
BW: I joined the HKGA programme when I was little.
The HKGA is a great programme that promotes golf
to juniors in the right way. The programme led me
to the right direction. I got opportunities to play in
the U.S. against the best junior golfers in the world.
The top tier coaches at the HKGA engrained my solid
fundamentals at a young age. Without all the support
from the HKGA, I wouldn’t be where I’m at today.
HKGOLFER.COM

HK GOLFER・JUL 2017

31

EFG HONG KONG LADIES OPEN

Superb Supamas
Thailand’s Supamas Sangchan won the EFG Hong Kong Ladies Open by
one shot, and denied Tiffany Chan’s fairy tale title defence after last year’s
playoff success as an amateur, writes Louie Chan.
Photography by Daniel Wong

2
Supamas Sangchan of
Thailand has claimed her
third professional tour title
after easing to victory at
the 2017 EFG Hong Kong
Ladies Open
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HK GOLFER・JUL 2017

1-year-old Supamas started the
final day tied at the top with
Yu Pei-lin but the player from
Chinese Taipei faded to a threeover-par for the day to extinguish
her chances of winning. Supamas
never lost her lead, and despite a nervy finish
with at both the 16th and 18th, she still
finished with a 10-under-par total 206 to
claim the HK$175,500 first prize.
Supamas’ fellow countrywoman Renuka
Suksukont and Hsieh Yu-ling of Chinese
Taipei both carded solid rounds of five and
four-under-par to end their campaigns at
nine-under, a shot off the pace to take the
runner-up spots.

The Bangkok based champion was flawless
in the first two days, carding a total of nine
birdies without a single blemish in 36 holes.
Her rivals might have thought they had a
chance when she dropped a shot for the first
time in the 4th but the Thai player quickly
dashed any hopes that she might fade with
birdies at the 6th, 9th, and 10th.
“This is my third year as a professional and
my second time competing at the EFG Hong
Kong Ladies Open. I feel like I am familiar
with the course, and as I approached the 18th
green I saw such a big crowd, which made
me a bit nervous but at the same time very
excited. I eventually bogeyed it but so glad it
was enough to give me win,” said the 2017
HKGOLFER.COM

EFG Hong Kong Ladies Open champion.
Defending champion Tiffany Chan started
the final round at tied-15th but a tentative
start with three bogeys in the first four holes
put paid to her chances of retaining the title.
However, the 23-year-old showed her grit as
she did all week and refused to fade away,
clawing back magnificently with birdies at the
5th, 6th, 9th, 11th and 12th.
Hong Kong’s first golfing Olympian
commented: “To have three bogeys in the first
four holes is a little unusual for me on this
course. I think I put a little bit of pressure on
myself trying to gain some ground early on.
Luckily, I scored well when I needed to get back
on par, which helped a lot. I definitely have a
lot to work on but overall, I am pleased with
my performance this week, and the EFG Hong
Kong Ladies Open provided a really good
experience for me as I begin my professional
career. I am a little bit disappointed but I did
the best I could. I hope golf fans enjoyed my
performance this week, and I would like to
thank them for supporting me all the way
through under such hot and humid conditions.”
HKGOLFER.COM

Tiffany turned professional in May after
rounding out her amateur career playing for the
University of Southern California and signed a
three-year sponsorship deal with Swiss private
bank EFG before the tournament started.
EFG is no stranger to the world of golf
in Hong Kong, having been the principal
partner of the Hong Kong Golf Association’s
elite junior development programme between
2009 and 2014. It was also during the
programme in 2009 when EFG met Hong
Kong’s first golfing Olympian and the winner
of the golf tournament at the 2014 World
University Championships.
EFG’s support of Tiffany is a long-term one
and it extends beyond the elite junior development
programme in which Chan was a participant
throughout her teenage years. When the Tuen
Mun-native made the decision to pursue her
university career and improve her golf game in the
U.S. in 2013, EFG offered her financial support
in the form of a scholarship. The partnership
affirms the Swiss bank’s commitment to support
one of Hong Kong’s best, to help kickstart her
career as a professional golfer.

Tiffany Chan receives
the Hong Kong Golf Club
Cup as the top Hong Kong
finisher (tied-13th) at the
2017 EFG Hong Kong Ladies
Open from Mr. Albert Chiu,
Head of Asia Region, EFG
International (Left) and Mr.
Arnold Wong, Captain of
the Hong Kong Golf Club
HK GOLFER・JUL 2017

33

Tiffany Chan showed her
grit as she did all week
and refused to fade away

An avid golf fan, EFG International Head
of Asia Region Albert Chiu said: “We are
delighted to have Tiffany onboard as EFG
Global Sport Ambassador for the next three
years. She was already a standout when I first
met her at the Hong Kong Golf Association
elite junior programme back in 2009. Everyone
at EFG was very impressed by her dedication,
commitment, and determination to succeed,
and over the years she has proven to everyone
time and again that she is a real deal. We look
forward to working with Tiffany, and we will
do what we can to ensure she experiences a
smooth and successful transition from amateur
to professional.”
“I am very thankful for EFG’s support
over the past 10 years. I knew very early on I
wanted to make golf my career, and EFG has
always been by my side, supporting me. I will
never forget when they jumped in to help me
kickstart my college career with a scholarship,
and without a doubt, that opportunity
propelled me onto the most efficient and
effective track to achieving my dreams. I am
honored to be EFG’s Global Sport Ambassador
and will do everything I can to make EFG
and Hong Kong proud,” added HK’s
golfing golden girl.
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HK GOLFER・JUL 2017

Now that the local star has turned professional, she has expressed her
desire to do more to give back to the local community so those who
look up to her can have every chance to use sport as a means to improve
social mobility and carve out their own paths to success. To achieve
her goal, Tiffany has announced that she will team up with the off
icial charity partner of the EFG Hong Kong Ladies Open, Friends of Asia
Hong Kong, to embark on a Corporate Social Responsibility course to
empower and better the lives of disadvantaged youngsters through sports.

LEADING FINAL SCORES
1 Supamas Sangchan

Thailand

66 69 71

206

2= Renuka Suksukont

Thailand

74 66 67

207

Chinese Taipei

71 68 68

207

4= Saranporn Langkulgasettrin

Thailand

76 67 65

208

Leticia Ras Anderica

Germany

73 68 67

208

Chen Yu-ju

Chinese Taipei

70 70 68

208

7 Li Jia-yun

China

67 71 71

209

8= Zhang Yun-jie

China

69 72 69

210

Zhang Wei-wei

China

72 67 71

210

Kim Jin-min

South Korea

70 68 72

210

Yu Pei-lin

Chinese Taipei

70 65 75

210

Huang Ching

Chinese Taipei

68 68 74

210

Hsieh Yu-ling

HKGOLFER.COM

Renuka Suksukont
takes the runnerup spot

Celebration time!

Mimi Ho and caddiefather Danny Ho

Chole Chan in action

Tiffany and
Steven Lam

HKGOLFER.COM

Taiwanese
Hsieh Yu-ling
finished at
nine-under to
tie for second

HK GOLFERă&#x192;ťJUL 2017

35

SUANSON VILLAS - RAYONG
THAILAND LUXURY BEACH VILLAS FROM HK$3.5M

PRIME VILLAS AND APARTMENTS IN THAILAND AND THE PHILIPPINES IN PROXIMITY TO CHAMPIONSHIP GOLF COURSES

Brooks Koepka, one of the biggest
hitters in the game, brought the
longest U.S. Open venue to it's knees.
Starting Sunday one stroke behind 54hole leader Brian Harman, the former
Florida State All-American fired a
5-under-par 67 - his third sub-70
round of the championship - to produce
a four-stroke victory over Harman
and world No. 4 Hideki Matsuyama,
writes Louie Chan.

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HK GOLFERă&#x192;ťJUL 2017

Brooks Koepka,
the 2017 U.S. Open
champion, holds the
trophy at Erin Hills

Brian Harman reacts to a
missed birdie putt on the
16th during the third round

40

HK GOLFER・JUL 2017

Koepka revealed he received a motivational
phone call from the world No. 1, Dustin
Johnson, the night before he became a first-time
major winner.
“Dustin called me on Saturday night and
told me to take one shot at a time, just to stay
patient,” Koepka said. “It was a case of ‘just keep
doing what you’re doing, you’re going to win
the thing. Just don’t get ahead of yourself’.
“Because we played a Tuesday practice round
together, he watched me play. I thought I played
pretty solid on Tuesday. He said he was pulling
for me and just hang in there. I felt like that has
been the thing lately with me, why I haven’t
really played that well - I’ve been trying to win
so badly. I felt like I underachieved. And the
more patient that I can become the more times
I’ll put myself in this situation,” added Koepka.
Koepka’s 72-hole total of 16-under 272 was
four strokes shy of the championship record
registered by Rory McIlroy in 2011 at par-71
Congressional Country Club, and it tied the
Northern Irishman’s mark in relation to par.
He also became the seventh consecutive firsttime major champion and the third American
in a row to win the U.S. Open, the first time
that’s happened since 2000 when Tiger Woods
followed Payne Stewart and Lee Janzen.
HKGOLFER.COM

Tommy Fleetwood
hits his second
shot on the 8th
during the final
round. He finished
fourth at 11 under

Hideki
Matsuyama
made a late
run with five
birdies over
his final eight
holes to finish
at 12-under
tied-second

Through nine holes, it appeared the
championship would come down to a KoepkaHarman duel, and when the former registered his
first three-putt of the championship on No. 10
for a bogey 5, the two dead-locked at 13 under.
Things could have unraveled for Koepka two
holes later, but he converted a 9-foot par putt.
That set the stage for his birdie barrage, including
a 17-footer on the par-3 16th to reach 16 under.
When Harman made a bogey 5 on the par-4
12th and a rare three-putt on 13th, any drama
was all but removed. “I don’t believe in moral
victories,” said Harman, the 2003 U.S. Junior
Amateur champion who was vying to become
the first left-handed golfer to hoist the U.S.
Open Trophy. “I had an opportunity today, and
I didn’t get it done. But at the same time, I don’t
feel as though I lost a golf tournament. I think
Brooks went out and won the tournament.”
Matsuyama made a late run with five birdies
over his final eight holes to get into the clubhouse
at 12 under, but Koepka never wavered, producing
a pair of pars on 17 and 18 to seal the win.

THE MOST FEARLESS
PLAYER EMERGED

It was all part of a record-setting week at Erin Hills,
the first course to host a U.S. Open in Wisconsin.
Even though the wind blew the hardest it had all
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HK GOLFER・JUL 2017

41

Rickie Fowler took the first-round
lead with a 65. But he could only finish
with an even-par 72 to tie for fifth

Justin Thomas hits his
tee shot on the 18th hole
during the third round.
His 9-under 63 set the
U.S. Open lowest score
in relation to par record

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HK GOLFER・JUL 2017

championship - 15 to 25 mph - 18 under-par scores
were posted on Sunday, bringing the total to 140,
which surpassed the 124 registered in 1990 at
Medinah Country Club.
Koepka’s four-stroke victory is the largest in
the last nine majors, dating to 2015 U.S. Open
champion Jordan Spieth’s four-stroke win in the
2015 Masters.
Even more astonishing was the seven golfers
who finished double digits under par, with
Tommy Fleetwood (11-under 277) finishing
fourth, and Bill Haas, 18-hole leader Rickie
Fowler and U.S. Open rookie Xander Schauffele
tying for fifth at 10-under 278. Those relationto-par numbers would have won all but two
U.S. Opens: Woods’ 15-stroke romp in 2000
at Pebble Beach Golf Links and McIlroy’s eightstroke victory in 2011.
A week that began with no Tiger Woods
or Phil Mickelson, marking the first time since
1994 at least one of the game’s leading men
wasn’t in the field at a major. It’s also a weekend
without world No. 1, 2 and 3 - Dustin Johnson,
Rory McIlory and Jason Day, respectively - for
the first time in a major.
For a Major championship that seemed to lack
an identity, initially as a result of the perceived
missing star power, Rickie Fowler initially filled
the star void. He took the first-round lead with
HKGOLFER.COM

a 65 and started the final round just two strokes
back, but he never managed to close the gap and
finished with an even-par 72 to tie for fifth.
The Erin Hills Open was saved by Sunday’s
breeze. After three days of record scoring that
included Justin Thomas’ 9-under 63 - the lowest
score in relation to par ever at the U.S. Open
- balance and a bite were returned to the golf
universe on Day 4.
Sunday’s winds finally put the fear back in the
golf, where it should be at the U.S. Open, and as is
always the case the most fearless player emerged.
Koepka completed his transition from a calm
and confident player with plenty of potential to a
bona fide star who didn’t blink when the game’s
most demanding test finally arrived on Day 4.
Beyond that calm exterior and limitless power,
Koepka didn’t come to the PGA Tour with untold
fanfare or enjoy immediate and unqualified success.
Instead, he forged a much different path,
starting out on the European Challenge Tour,
the Continent’s version of the second-tier circuit,
before moving onto the European Tour. He played
tournaments in far-flung places like Kazakhstan
and had to have extra pages put into his passport
at one point because of his extensive travels. And
most importantly he learned his trade.
“I kept telling people last year after the Ryder
Cup when Brooks figures out how good he is,
he’s going to be a world-beater,” said Brandt
Snedeker, who tied for ninth (8-under 280).
Perhaps all he needed was the right venue
with generous fairways, just like Erin Hills that
fit Koepka’s game.

Appointment
Having made its Open Championship debut in 1954, and as it prepares
this month for its 10th staging of the world’s oldest ‘Major,’ Royal
Birkdale on the West Coast of England has the reputation for serving
up intriguing and interesting as opposed to epic championships and this
year’s 146th staging of the event is no different. As Mike Wilson writes,
whoever lifts the Claret Jug come Sunday 23rd July will know he has
been in a heavyweight title fight against the course, the elements and the
finest line-up of golfers the world can presently provide.

I

Jocs Linckens/golfsupport.nl

n terms of history, Royal Birkdale is
right up there: its first manifestation
wa s a n i ne -hole layout , wh ic h
opened 128 years ago. The course
in its present form, 18 holes and
6 ,817-ya rd s, Pa r-72 op ened i n
September 1894 and has since hosted all
the great events in golf, including the 1965
and 1969 Ryder Cup and this, a 10th Open
Championship.
Accorded t he ‘Roya l’ pref i x i n 1951
by King George VI, three years later, the
Lancashire course was hosting none other
than the Open Championship, its iconic art
deco clubhouse welcoming some of the finest
players in the world.
The legendary Australian Peter Thomson
won the inaugural event at Birkdale, the

46

HK GOLFER・JUL 2017

first of three Claret Jugs in-a-row, a fourth
following in 1958 at nearby Royal Lytham &
St. Annes. Thomson returned to Birkdale to
take the title again in 1965, two of his five,
‘Majors’, won over the same seaside course.
Royal Birkdale was back in Open action
in 1961 when Arnold Palmer, a.k.a. ‘The
King,’ the man credited with saving what had
become an ailing event, crossed the Atlantic
to lift the Claret Jug at just the second time of
asking, having finished runner-up on debut
at St. Andrews and going on to successfully
defend at Royal Troon the following year.
Roya l Bi rkd a le enjoye d t he honou r
o f h o s t i n g t h e 10 0 t h s t a g i n g O p e n
Championship, in 1961 when ‘Super Mex,’
Lee Trevino took the course apart in favorable
conditions before going on to continue the
HKGOLFER.COM

It's staying with me Harrington retains the
Claret Jug he won at
Carnoustie in 2007

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HK GOLFERã&#x192;»JUL 2017

47

But, can Harrington turn back the clock and
win a third Open Championship, and a second
at Birkdale this year?

Royal Birkdale Golf Club

‘A demanding, strategic
championship links
course where what you
see is what you get,
thick rough, narrow
fairways, 100-plus deep
bunkers best avoided
at all costs, testing each
and every club in the
bag, and, especially, the
putter.’ – Royal Birkdale
48

HK GOLFER・JUL 2017

theme of launching a successful defence at
Muirfield in 1962.
The ‘Blonde Bombshell,’ American Johnny
Miller, who has become one of the televised
gol f ’s most respected pu nd it s won t he
Open at Birkdale in 1976, but there was no
successful defence, Tom Watson edging out
Jack Nicklaus the following year at Turnberry
in the epic ‘Duel in the Sun.’
Watson himself was to successfully defend his
1982 victory at Royal Troon with victory at Royal
Birkdale the following year, while Thomson’s
compatriot Ian Baker-Finch was to lift the Claret
Jug at the Lancashire Links in 1991.
American Mark O’Meara won the 1998
Open Championship at Birkdale, the only one
of the nine championships held there to date
to require a play-off, before, a decade later,
Irishman Pádraig Harrington came to Royal
Birkdale to defend the title he had won the

previous year in a dramatic playoff against
Sergio García at Carnoustie.
If Harrington’s victory was memorable, the
genial Irishman whose amiability disguises
a fierce will-to-win, saying afterwards with
Claret Jug in hand, “I had a great year as the
Open champion, so much so I did not want
to give it back.” Then the shot that clinched it
for him was truly momentous, a low cutting
five-wood to within three-feet on the 575yard, Par-5, 17th, putt holed, eagle three, the
job was done.
Playing with an injured wrist, with Ryder
Cup teammate Ian Poulter on the charge, and
his playing partner, the legendary Greg Norman
was also in serious contention. Harrington was
under pressure with a capricious wind blowing
on the toughest hole on the golf course. If there
has been a better single shot in the history of
‘Major’ golf, I’ve to see it.
But, can Harrington turn back the clock
and win a third Open Championship, and a
second at Birkdale this year?
Probably not, as he is showing few signs
of form, but returning to the scene of an epic
HKGOLFER.COM

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Justin Rose, then a callow 17-year-old amateur,
burst to worldwide prominence at 1998 Open
Championship at Royal Birkdale.
146th Open Championship, I suggest turning
the clock back 19 years - yes, 19 years - and the
1998 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.
Justin Rose, then a callow 17-year-old
amateur, burst to worldwide prominence at
1998 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.
He holed a dramatic shot from the rough
from about 50 yards for birdie on the 18th
hole, to finish in a tie for fourth - still his
highest finish - and win the Silver Medal as
leading amateur by a country mile.
The following day he turned professional,
missing his first 21 successive cuts, before
resurrecting his career with 19 professional
wins, including the 2013 U.S. Open; the
reigning Olympic champion is just the sort
of player to potter and plug away around
Birkdale, inconspicuous until the back nine
on Sunday, keeping out of trouble. And he
knows how and when to apply the rapier-like
killer blow.
As for the Asian hopes, once again, they
rest first-and-foremost with young Japanese
star Hideki Matsuyama. Royal Birkdale will
be his fifth Open Championship, finishing
in a tie for sixth on debut in 2016, but don’t
expect the Claret Jug to be heading on a trip
to Asia this year.

Justin Rose, the reigning
Olympic champion, is
just the sort of player to
potter and plug away
around Birkdale
HK GOLFER・JUL 2017

AFP/Paul Vicente

victory can often spur a player on to great
things - at 165th on the OWGR, 45-years-ofage, anything is possible.
His compatriots, notably Rory McIlroy
and Shane Lowry look better equipped than
the man with three ‘Major’ titles already
to his name, although McIlroy now needs
another Open Championship more than
the Open needs him to win it, especially
following his capitulation at the U.S. Open
least month.
Don’t expect one of those PGA Tour highball-flight, ‘target golf’ players to prevail at
Birkdale this month, especially if the wind
blows, which it almost always does.
The 2017 champion will be a man who
can keep his golf ball - and his emotions
- under control and play percentage golf
under pressure for four long days, over a
golf course which is exactly what it says, ‘A
demanding, strategic championship links
course where what you see is what you
get, thick rough, narrow fairways, 100plus deep bunkers best avoided at all costs,
testing each and every club in the bag, and,
especially, the putter.’
Do expect a European victory at this,
t he 14 6t h Open Cha mpionsh ip. Swede
Henrik Stenson looking to repeat the backto-back traditions of Royal Birkdale, his inform compatriot Alex Norén looking equally
impressive, as is Belgian youngster Thomas
Pieters, were he to win would become the
first Belgian ever to hold the Claret Jug.
World nu mb er- one D u st i n Joh n son
certainly has the power to overwhelm the
Birkdale links. But few will forget him
carving a straightforward approach to the
green out-of-bounds on the back nine of the
final day at Royal St. George’s in 2011, or
his sluggish recent surrender to Erin Hills
in the U.S. Open, a course tailor-made to
his game.
Sergio García, a man now unburdened by
the epithet of, ‘The best golfer never to win
a ‘Major.’ A player with ten top-10 finishes
in the Championship knows now he can
convert contending into winning. His young
compatriot, Jon Rahm, in the form of his life
probably too inexperienced to follow in the
footsteps of the man he is often compared to,
the late, great Seve Ballesteros.
If there were to be a ‘Home’ winner from
the UK, there would be none more popular
t ha n L ee West wood, t he ma n who has
inherited García’s most unwanted moniker five top-10s, including runner-up in 2010, in
22 successive attempts at clinching a Claret
Jug few would begrudge him.
But to unmask the man who could win the

49

Photo Courtesy of Asian Tour

NOTES FROM THE ASIAN TOUR

Rattanon Wannasrichan raced
to a glorious home win with his
21-under-par 263 aggregate after
opening with a flying 62 at the
Thailand Open
52

HK GOLFERã&#x192;»JUL 2017

Shoot
for the

Stars

At a time when iconic Asian
Tour legends such as K.J. Choi,
Jeev Milkha Singh, Thongchai
Jaidee and Y.E. Yang, are tipping
the opposite end of the golfing
scale by hitting past their mid40s age mark, a bunch of fearless
young guns have since emerged to
ensure more exciting days ahead
for Asian golf. As Chuah Choo
Ching writes, Asiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s reservoir of
golfing talent continues to grow
deeper with the exciting emergence
of new and young rising stars.

HK GOLFERă&#x192;ťJUL 2017

53

Photo Courtesy of Asian Tour

T

“I have waited five years
for this win. I am really
proud of myself. I finally
proved that I can do it,”
said Rattanon
54

HK GOLFER・JUL 2017

he latest spark to hit the Asian
Tour scene in a big way is
Rattanon Wannasrichan, a
22-year-old who claimed a
stunning start-to-finish victory
at the Thailand Open, which
made a welcome return onto the Asian Tour
Schedule following an eight-year lapse.
Baby-faced Rattanon upstaged a top field at
the Thai Country Club which included reigning
Asian Tour No. 1 Scott Hend and 2013 Order
of Merit champion Kiradech Aphibarnrat to
secure his career breakthrough.
His rise isn’t quite a total surprise. As an
amateur, Rattanon showed glimpses of his
potential by winning the Southeast Asian
Games ‘double’ when he bagged the individual
and team gold medals in 2011.
He turned professional soon after in the
following year, and cut his teeth on the domestic
Thai circuit and Asian Development Tour in
which he won the 2015 Taifong Open against
several of Chinese Taipei’s leading stars including
Lu Wei-chih and Chan Shih-chang.
Rattanon’s learning curve maintained
its positive trend when he finished 60th on
the Order of Merit, thanks to top-10s in the

Shinhan Donghae Open in Korea and Venetian
Macao Open to earn the last and final full Tour
card for 2017.
Two top-five finishes in Bangladesh and
Chinese Taipei early this season provided the
prelude to his Thai Open triumph in which he
raced to a glorious home win with his 21-underpar 263 aggregate after opening with a flying 62.
He averaged only 24 putts per round that week.
“I have waited five years for this win. I am
really proud of myself. I finally proved that I can
do it,” said Rattanon. “I’m no longer afraid of
anyone after the win. I’m feeling confident.”
He joi ne d fel low you n g ster s Ja z z
Janewattananond, 21, Danthai Boonma, also
21, and 23-year-old Natipong Sritong in the
exclusive Asian Tour champions club which
prompted experienced Indian Shiv Kapur, who
finished second to Rattanon, to marvel at the
rise of the Thai kids.
“There’s just a big bunch of young kids
coming up from Thailand and India especially,”
said the double Asian Tour winner.
I n a d d i t i o n , 18 -y e a r - o l d Ph a c h a r a
Khongwatmai was ranked an impressive third
on the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit at the time
of writing following two runner-up finishes
HKGOLFER.COM

18-year-old Phachara
Khongwatmai was
ranked an impressive
third on the Asian
Tour’s Order of Merit
at the time of writing

in the SMBC Singapore Open, which featured
Adam Scott and Sergio Garcia, and the ISPS
HANDA World Super 6 Perth.
Away from Thailand, Chikkaranggapa S.
and Shubhankar Sharma, both in their early
20s, are only a couple of promising prospects
tipped to carry India’s flag on the international
front over the next decade or so. Former Asian
Tour number one Anirban Lahiri, who turned
30 at the end of June, is now at the prime of
his career and plying his trade full time on the
PGA TOUR which is bound to make him a
better golfer.
Young blood continues to flow in the veins of
Korea’s Jeunghun Wang, who is already a threetime European Tour champion and he’s still
only 21! Filipino hopes will rest squarely on the
shoulders of 22-year-old Miguel Tabuena, who
has won once on the Asian Tour.
Long-hitting Gavin Green, 23, is Malaysia’s
new hope, with two runner-up finishes in India
and Chinese Taipei this season pushing him into
the top-five of the Order of Merit.
Of course, Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama
remains as the region’s shining light. At 25, he
has already won four times on the PGA Tour,
including this season’s Phoenix Open. With five
top-10s in the Majors, Matsuyama will certainly
drive the inspiration for the likes of Rattanon
and company to shoot for the stars.
C h u a ch C h o o C h i a ng i s D i re c t o r,
Communication of the Asian Tour and is based
in Malaysia.
HKGOLFER.COM

21-year-old
Shubhankar
Sharma is a
promising
prospect tipped to
carry India’s flag
on the international
front over the next
decade or so

HK GOLFER・JUL 2017

55

BUNKER MENTALITY

58

HK GOLFERã&#x192;»JUL 2017

HKGOLFER.COM

Kevin Kisner - hardly a sporting superstar
- saying when asked about the new
Tournament in South Korea, “We’re
playing for US$9.25 million, but not all of
us want to get on a plane and fly over there
and play for it. I’d rather have a US$9.25
million purse in Aiken, South Carolina.”

PGA Tour’s
Far Eastern Forays
Are

Far

from

Fair
Part 2

HK GOLFER・JUL 2017

AFP/Getty Images

As Mike Wilson continues to write, the US-based circuit
is now expanding into Korea, Japan and even global
domination on the cards with the minimal resistance offered
and it’s bad for golf in the Far East.
59

T

AFP/Getty Images

Ty Votaw, who speaks
on behalf of the IFPGAT,
in addition to his role as
Executive Vice President
and CMO for the PGA
Tour said, “Each member
of the IFPGAT has its own
communications teams,
and no one is authorised
to speak on behalf of the
collective Federation
without the consent of
the other members.”
60

HK GOLFER・JUL 2017

y Vot aw, who sp e a k s on
b e h a l f o f t h e I F P G A T,
in add it ion to h is role as
E xe c ut ive V P a n d C h ie f
Marketing Off icer for the
P G A To u r s a i d , “ E a c h
member of t he I F PG AT ha s it s ow n
com mu n icat ion s tea ms, a nd no one is
authorized to speak on behalf of the collective
Federat ion wit hout t he consent of t he
other members. Accordingly, I will not be
answering your questions.”
A convenient get-out-of-jail-free card
indeed, and an apparent conflict of interests,
the self-interest of the PGA Tour.
Offering the eighth fattest prize fund
in world golf, worth more than the Open
Championship itself, whoever tops the CJ
CUP leaderboard on 22nd October this
year will bank a cheque for over US$1.5m,
that’s 50% more than Asian Tour Order of
Merit winner Scott Hend earned during the
whole of 2016.
PGA Tour players are notoriously reluctant
to travel beyond their backyards, and if the
attitude of world number 41, Kevin Kisner

- hardly a sporting superstar - they appear a
bunch of pampered, overpaid and ungrateful
brats, Kisner saying when asked about the new
Tournament in South Korea, “It just seems
like we should play at home, but I’m not sure
where the Tour is trying to go around.
“Obviously, they want to make it more of
a world Tour, which is great. We’re playing
for US$9.25 million, but not all of us want to
get on a plane and fly over there and play for
it,” Kisner adding, “I’d rather have a US$9.25
million purse in Aiken, South Carolina.”
Kisner, who has earned almost US$2.2m
so fa r t h is term wit hout wi n n i ng a
Tou r n a ment a nd US $10.7m i n c a re er
earnings with just one modest PGA TOUR
victory concluded, “The economy is not
growing fast enough in the U.S. to keep
asking people to throw money at us.”
It could be argued that in the case of the
US$2.5m Japan Airlines Championship that
there is currently no Japanese senior’s circuit,
and that the LPGA Tour travels the world
without criticism, both of which are true.
But the first-ever Champions Tour event
in Asia sucks sponsorship revenue and media
HKGOLFER.COM

space away from the domestic scene, while
women’s golf can realistically only support
one major professional circuit at this time.
Meanwhile, with tensions reaching feverpitch in the Korean Peninsula with a war of
words between US President Donald Trump
and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, with
both men threatening military action, the PGA
Tour also declined to say whether diplomatic
advice had been sought before confirming its
first-ever Tournament in South Korea.
PGA Tour golf is an acquired taste, and
this correspondent is yet - and unlikely
ever - to acquire it: homogenous players
on lookalike courses, obstinately grudging
grunting vapid insights into their latest
round, statistics galore, strong allegiances
to particular players based on state and/or
college affiliations and on a purely practical
basis. As the CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES
is reaching its denouement in South Korea,
it will be breakfast time in New York and
the middle of the night in California, hardly
making for prime-time TV.
But the harsh reality of the situation is
that the CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES is in
the open capitalist market that America pays
homage. There is no more worth US$9.25m
than the CIMB Classic is worth US$7m,
me a n i n g sp on sor s , me d ia out le t s a nd
HKGOLFER.COM

ultimately local and regional Tours and their
players will get burned, and golf in the region
will be the loser.
U n t i l t h e n , t h e P G A To u r i s , i n
fact, starting covertly to begin with an
additional sub-circuit, below the big-bucks
WGC, ‘Majors,’ FedEx Finals and Players
Championship tier. Just beneath the 20plus domestic events offering more than over
US$6m prize funds, but well above both
the Web.com Tour and the sprinkling of
‘Miserly’ events like the US$3.5m Barracuda
Cha mpionsh ip a nd t he US$3m P uer to
Rico Open.
But anyone who has ever tried to cut a
tempting, tasty gateau into too many thin
slices, it begins to crumble, then there’s not
enough cake to go round.
The PGA Tour is selling the game of golf
in Asia short, the Asian and KPGA Korean
Tours have been sold down the river, CJ
and the Jeju Government have been sold the
proverbial pup, but could the insatiable, selfinterested juggernaut that is the PGA Tour
care less?
Not for a single nanosecond, because of its
stock-in-trade, a microcosm of the free market
capitalist economy the USA pays homage to,
is to sell its soul to the highest bidder, seize
the spoils and ignore the good of the game.

The US$750,000 CJ
Invitational Hosted by KJ
Choi has been a legitimate
and authentic Asian Tour
event for over four years
HK GOLFER・JUL 2017

61

THE KILTED CADDIE

Golf

Traditions
That Should Not Be

Changed
AFP/Adrian Dennis

The Kilted Caddie explains why some golf traditions
simply cannot and should not be changed…

64

HK GOLFER・JUL 2017

Lee Westwood watches his shot played out of the
rough onto the third green during the final round
of the 2013 Open Championship at Muirfield

HK GOLFERã&#x192;»JUL 2017

65

I
Getty Images/AFP

Henrik Stenson jumps
over the famous Swilcan
Burn on the 1st hole
during the 2010 Open
Golf Championship at
St Andrews
66

HK GOLFER・JUL 2017

am a big fan and follower of golf
traditions. I like them almost as much
as I like my beer, and they are as
integral to our glorious and historical
game with its near-mythical social
status as the blessed amber nectar itself.
Golf is imbued with many great and varied
traditions. From the big post lunch serving of
Kummel and afternoon two balls at Muirfield,
to the early morning gunfire in St Andrews as
the new Captain of the R&A drives into office.
He hits a shot off the first tee of the Old Course
and eager local caddies, which line the fairway,
scramble and fight for his ball in the hope
of winning a gold sovereign. Our traditions
are quirky, unusual and part of our rich
golfing heritage.
The Muirfield two-ball format, which is
now called ‘Scotch foresomes’ throughout the
world, is ostensibly to facilitate members to
‘walk off’ their hearty lunches, of which the
Honourable Gentleman’s Club is of course
famous. However, it could also clear the head
a tad after the consumption of the renowned
Kümmel digestif, for that liqueur is not for the
faint-hearted or lightly constituted.

This may now have worryingly penetrated
Japanese culture, and this is how. A St
Andrews caddie, George Murray, who lives
in a beautiful flat overlooking the 18th tee of
the Old Course was invited out to one of the
premier clubs there with a friend, where they
happily played their morning round. However,
at lunch, they were each presented with a bottle
of malt whisky. So, in true Scottish fashion
and of course not to appear rude they duly
consumed the whole bottle. Afterwards, they
somehow made it out to play two balls. At least
that is what George said he saw.
The playing in of the Captain of the R&A
hearkens back to when Queen Victoria’s
you ngest son, L eopold , was becom i ng
Captain. And they wanted to honour the
moment in true heraldic fashion, and so a
cannon was fired at the side of the tee in time
with the ceremonious drive, and so it is done
to this day. The Captain wins the Silver Club
and the Queen Adelaide Medal. However, the
whole occasion is given added spectacle as a
significant number of local caddies line the
fairway in the hope of retrieving the ball. The
lucky chap who manages to grab it amongst
HKGOLFER.COM

HKGOLFER.COM

the next year’s Club Championship Finals Day,
but unfortunately, they set the time to coincide
with the start of a free champagne reception
and that, as opposed to chugging up a severely
challenging hill overwhelmingly swayed
everyone, which was a pity.
For ’professional golf ’ originated in this
way, not by running up hills I mean but from
evolving tradition. To conclude the R& A
Autumn Meetings in the mid 19th century,
members put money into a pot for locals,
mostly caddies, to play. It was called the ‘put
ins’ or ‘in puts’, and the fact was that the locals
could end up playing for quite a healthy pot.
A 20-year-old man called Tom Morris won
the 1841 ‘put in’ with a score of 93 which was
a record. This effectively is the progenitor of
‘professional’ golf.
Now I am of the opinion that the ‘put ins’
is a very noble tradition indaeed and that it
should be reinstigated as soon as possible.
But for heaven’s sake chaps don’t set the match
date to coincide with our annual knees up in
The Jigger!
Some traditions simply cannot and should
not be changed. Hic.

American Tom Lehman
chips on the second during
the third round of the 2013
Open Championship
HK GOLFER・JUL 2017

AFP/Adrian Dennis

the scrum of caddies (‘a pudgie’) gets presented
a gold sovereign. I just missed out on this a
couple of years back and was running to get
to it against my golf writing nemesis Oliver
Horovitz. But unfortunately, I slipped and
went head over heels causing much amusement
to the onlooking R&A members back on the
tee, who thought I’d fallen into the Swilcan
Burn. I seemingly just disappeared.
My first club Mortonhall in Edinburgh
has a wonderfully eccentric tradition called
the Dewar Hill Race. Outside our clubhouse,
there is a rather large and steep hill rising
about 150m to what used to be the old 18th
tee. Now the race involves running up this
said hill and playing out the old par four
18th as quickly as possible. We ran it again
as part of our Centenary Year celebrations,
and very many brave and gallous members
turned out. However, several looked hugely
challenged afterwards. I got the best time with
3mins 57 and a par but Mr Keith McCall,
ex-British Universities Golf Champion and
R&A member, managed a birdie and won it
on handicap. Time handicap that is. I tried to
reinstate this as an annual event at the end of

67

GOLF FITNESS

x

HK Golfer
Pinnacle BLACK

Louie Chan will work with Pinnacle BLACK for a 12-week strength and
conditioning training programme to improve his golf game and performance
and lower his golf handicap as the ultimate goal, writes James Honey.

t Pinnacle BLACK, all
athletes are subjected to
specific screening measures
to retain accountability with
their goal, and ensure that
all training is optimised.
With Louie, we are embarking upon a 12week training programme specifically designed
to improve his golf game, so naturally we put
Louie through his paces with an initial profiling
session utilising our Pinnacle Golf Screening to
gauge his overall athletic suitability for golf, and
to organise his primary areas of improvement
in the first few weeks.
The Pinnacle Golf Screening is an hour-long
protocol specifically designed to assess the most
relevant areas of strength, stability, mobility and
work capacity for a golfer of any level, all tests
scored from 1-5. We have included a selection
of Louie’s best and worst measures here to
display his priority areas, as can be seen there
are a couple that were very obvious to begin
with! Louie had fantastic mobility through his
thoracic spine and shoulders, which requires
no improvement. Louie’s main areas of focus
were his strength deficit, and what will be
a focus here is his hip strength. The capacity
to stabilise and control hip movement in a
golf swing is paramount, and Louie’s baseline
strength in all areas of his hips was sub-par for
golf performance. The following are some of
the key exercises we would utilise for creating
initial improvement here.

1

1
2
4

70

HK GOLFER・JUL 2017

2

James Honey is an S&C coach at Pinnacle BLACK, and
also the Lead S&C Coach of HKGA. Contact him today
for a complimentary Pinnacle Golf Screening session
and trial week at Pinnacle BLACK! Please contact
black@pinnacleperformance.hk or visit their website
at www.pinnacleblack.hk
HKGOLFER.COM

SIDE PLANK ABDUCTION
Hip strength and stability is controlled by many individual muscles working in unison, and the hips integrate highly with the spine. The side
plank is an exercise which reinforces proper spinal posture, whilst working the lateral hip and torso. Abducting (lifting) the top leg is harder
than it looks! We are starting with 3 sets of 30seconds each side with the leg abducted, progressing the amount of time each session.

GOBLET SQUAT
The squat is an essential movement pattern which creates stability and strength around the hip, among other joints. Louie is performing
a ‘Goblet’ squat holding a dumbbell on his chest. Full depth with a neutral spine is important, and the musculature throughout the legs,
torso, and specifically the hips will be worked appropriately. We are starting with 3 sets of 12 repetitions each session, with Louie aiming
to progress the weight used whilst retaining perfect technique.

SPLIT SQUAT
When performed properly, this exercise is fantastic for lateral hip stability and strength. As Louie displays here, his chest and torso are
aligned directly above his back knee. As Louie stands, his hip and leg musculature is worked appropriately, providing he retains his
perfect posture which is tough! This exercise can be loaded with weight which is an aim for Louie, and we are starting with 3 sets of 8
repetitions each side, with a slight pause at the top of the movement.
HKGOLFER.COM

HK GOLFER・JUL 2017

71

An Arts and Crafts masterpiece of exceptional quality,
located in fine Surrey countryside, close to London
Kingsmead, Farnham, Surrey, UK • Guide Price £19,000,000

10. (& 7D) Last winner here in 2008, also won at Carnoustie
the year before

76

DOWN

1. (& 5A) Pipped “Mr Lu” here in 1971

4. See 22D

11. See 17D

6. See 20D

12. (& 13D) Aussie legend who won his 1st and 5th Opens here

7. See 10A

14. (& 19D) US legend who won his 5th Open here in 1983

8. See 16A

15. See 21A

9. See 25A

16. (& 24A, 8D) Aussie TV man, won only major here in 1991,
before his game fell apart

13. See 12A

21. (& 15A) 1st Open win in ‘61 for head of his own “Army”

17. (& 18D, 11A) Wee low shot called for here, around the greens

23. Host town

18. See 17D

24. See 16A

19. See 14A

25. (& 9D) Outspoken US TV man, won his 2nd major here
in 1976

20. (& 6D) Tiger’s old mentor and fishing mate, won here in 1998

HK GOLFER・JUL 2017

14. Another 5 times Open winner, “J.H.”, reworked this course

22. (& 4D) Host course

HKGOLFER.COM

WIN "THE GOLFERS" PRINT
To enter, complete the crossword and send a scan or photo of the completed grid to Crossword@HKGolfer.com,
with “July Crossword” as the subject. Remember to include your name, address and contact number.
Entries close on 15 August 2017.

A luxury print, measuring 38” x 26”, has been produced
and is available exclusively in Asia through the HK
Golfer. Each print is accompanied by a printed key
identifying each of the characters, and makes the
perfect gift for any golfer.
Yo u m ay a ls o v isi t H KG o l f e r Sh o p. co m, w r i te
to store@hkgolfer.com or call us on 3590 4153 if you wish
to purchase a print for only HK$888 (inc. free delivery).

PREVIOUS ANSWERS

ONE LUCKY WINNER WILL BE DRAWN FROM THE CORRECT ENTRIES.
Congratulations to Edward Liu of Sai Kung who won the May crossword.

Hill & Adamson, “The Golfers”
HKGOLFER.COM

HK GOLFER・JUL 2017

77

FINAL SHOT

Nick Cowper
Louie Chan talks to the General Manager of PureForm Golf HK
about his college golf achievements and perspective on golf coaching
and club fitting.
When did you start playing - and where?
I was first introduced to golf at three to four years old by my
Grandfather, John Thomson, who moved his family to HK in 1970. I
was born in Australia in 1982 and soon after returning to HK, we
immigrated as a family to Auckland, New Zealand in 1985. My father
would take me to the Akarana Golf Course in Auckland where I first
learned to play. My mother unexpectedly passed away in the spring
of 1993. I immigrated to the U.S. with my younger sister, father and
stepmother. Four years later, we settled in Kennesaw, a small quiet
suburban town just outside Atlanta, Georgia. It was then my real
passion and determination for golf was ignited.
Do you have family ties in HK?
My Grandfather John was the Chief Instrumental Engineer at HK
Electric. He is a Scotsman and extremely passionate golfer, joined
HKGC as a member later that year, playing every Sunday until he
moved back to Scotland retired in the 1980s. Both of my parents
grew up in HK. My father attended King George V School, and
was quite the sportsman played hockey, rugby and soccer but never
played golf. Len Cowper, my Grandfather on my father’s side, was
the first pilot of Cathay Pacific Airways. He was married to my
grandmother, Joy Drake, who was the 1966 Miss HK.

Richard Castka/Sportpix International

How often do you play?
I don’t get to play on course too much nowadays as I spend most
of my time fitting golf equipment and coaching at PureForm
Golf HK. However, operating a facility with the best golf
instructional and swing analyzing technology, I’m able to keep
my golf game even better as it once was.
What’s been your best ever round?
On May 7th, 2001 during my freshman year at Armstrong
State, I shot a course and NCAA record 63 in the first round of
the Southeastern Super Regional Conference Championship at
78

HK GOLFER・JUL 2017

North Shore Golf Club, North Carolina. I went on to win that
tournament and qualify for the NCAA Championship that year.
That event and performance earned me NCAA All-American
honors in my freshman year. I think that round was the day and
moment I believed I could really play golf professionally.
Do you have a favourite course?
HKGC is my favorite for its history and prestige. The stories
my Grandfather has told me about the past great HK Open
champions years ago always inspired me. Clearwater Bay
definitely tops my list as one of the most picturesque golf courses
I’ve ever played. The 10th to 12th are such beautiful, well
designed and challenging golf holes.
What is your perspective on golf coaching and club fitting?
They are completely different. However, both are important
aspects to evaluate your overall golf performance. The common
misconception is that club fitting is just for the accomplished
player. As a beginner, having the correct golf equipment will
tremendously benefit one’s learning. One of the first things I
work with a new student is assessing the equipment they are
using. Properly fitting equipment including the correct weight,
length, flex, lie angle, loft even visual design and aesthetics of
the club head. We have developed our system to customize
your improvement through better understanding of swing
mechanics, coupled with equipment best suited to maximize
your best swings.
Who would be in your dream four-ball?
My dream four-ball would definitely be Tiger Woods, Michael
Jordan and Justin Timberlake. All three at some point were my
childhood hero!
If you want to book a fitting session or lesson at PureForm Golf HK,
please write to info@pureformgolfhk.com or call +852 3598 2958.
HKGOLFER.COM